Pop-Culturalist.com

Shomari Love is a dynamic storyteller who has brought multifaceted characters to life in projects including Black Lightning, Take the Night, and The Chi. This year, he can be seen heating up the screen in Kold x Windy.

The must-see drama follows the lifelong hustle of young female hip hop and drill stars, Kold and Windy, amplified through the sounds of Chicago’s south side.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Shomari about Kold x Windy, his journey in the industry, and more.

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts and storytelling?
Shomari: I have always been interested in the arts and storytelling. I’ve always done it in some capacity. As kids, we explore our imagination. Through music and painting, I always found a way to express myself and be a storyteller.

It wasn’t until a little bit later when I got a bit older and more mature that I began appreciating television, film, and the stage. I started to see things in a new light. That was in 2015, 2016. It was like, “This is the thing. I can do something with this. I can tell stories in different mediums.” Then it became a question of how. Where do I go from here? How do I start?

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on that journey?
Shomari: There are so many people. Definitely the late Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, August Wilson, and Leonardo DiCaprio. On the personal side, I’d say my mother, grandmother, and grandfather. They’ve always been inspirational figures on this adventure that I’m on and embraced the things that I’m passionate about.

PC: In addition to acting, you’ve also written and directed. How have your experiences behind the camera impacted the way that you approach your work on screen and vice versa?
Shomari: It made me a better artist. It continues to make me a better artist and a better human being. Wearing all those different hats, you get to see a glimpse of other people’s perspectives. It helps you understand everything that goes into this, the way others work, and how it really is one big collective effort. It also helps me understand characters in different ways and the choices that they make.

PC: You’ve had so much success in your career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out?
Shomari: I think the day that I landed at LAX to shoot Take the Night. That was my first time in LA. Since I started, I always said, “One day, I’m going to make it to LA.” That’s everyone’s dream. For that to manifest itself, I couldn’t ask for anything else. I was like, “Wow. This is happening.”

PC: Tell us about Kold x Windy, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Shomari: Kold x Windy focuses on the drill rap scene in Chicago. It’s a gritty series. It gives a different perspective on what the Chicago drill scene looks like. With that comes a lot of turf rivalry.

My character Dirty is a part of the biggest rivals for Kold and Windy. They have a long history in terms of their rivalry in the streets. Dirty is a ruthless individual. He’s really bent on revenge and making his perspective and case very clear. He wants to make a point out of anyone that might have crossed him.

I’m always drawn to roles that are authentic and have an aesthetic to them. For this project, it’s the Chicago drill rap scene. Most people know of it from what they see in the media. Despite how it’s depicted, it’s someone’s reality. Whenever I have an opportunity to play a character that’s telling someone’s story, I want to make sure that I can do it as authentically as possible because at the end of the day, it’s someone’s story.

PC: This series has been incredibly well received. Was there a moment when you realized you were creating something special? What do you think is resonating most with audiences?
Shomari: I’ve been a part of The Chi. I’ve been a part of different projects and communities that have taken part in Chicago. But this one is really special because it’s so heavily influenced by music. Throughout the series, we see how each of the characters chooses to express themselves individually and in their music. They heal through music. They let out their frustrations through music. They communicate through music.

PC: You’ve done tons of television and films throughout your career. How do these two mediums differ?
Shomari: They’re two different animals. You hit the nail on the head. The process is even different. Take the Night was a feature film. You have a shorter window of time with film. You sometimes get a few weeks depending on the project. You’re able to tell a story that encompasses so much about someone’s life and put it all together. It’s shot out of sequence. On that project, we were shooting some of the final scenes in the first few days. I was like, “I haven’t had time to get into my character and get to that climactic point.”

But with television, if you’re lucky enough to be on a series for an extended period of time, you get to grow with the character. You grow with the arc and the story, and the character has the opportunity to develop over a longer period of time.

PC: We know you can’t say too much, but what can you tease about your character’s journey this season?
Shomari: I can’t say too much. I can say that you’ll get a better understanding of the character’s name. We’ll also get a better understanding of what drives the character and what motivates him. Then things will become pretty clear.

PC: You’re such a dynamic storyteller. As you look ahead to the next five to ten years, is there a dream role or story that you’d like to bring to life either as an actor, director, or producer?
Shomari: love that question. There’s so much that I want to do. We only get one life to live, and I feel like there are so many unsung heroes and stories that I would love to tell about. There have even been some men who were a part of my fraternity that have gone on and become so instrumental in different walks of life. I would love an opportunity to play one of those individuals in a biopic. Off the top of my head, there are individuals like Percy Julian. He has such an incredible story. There’s the first man who ever entered the Masters tournament in golf named Lee Elder. His story is a pretty interesting story as well. I would love to see something like that become a film one day.

To keep up with Shomari, follow him on Instagram. Watch Kold x Windy every Thursday at 10/9c on WEtv.